Open brain ejecting slime

[madrefkepr]

I have on open brain coral that I just got yesterday, It seemed to be doing okay, was not totally open - but almost. As I was looking into the tank, it ejected a bunch of brown slime, and deflated to about 1/2 the size it was. I had read something about this a while back, but I don't recall why they do this. Can somebody help me out?

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate .05
pH 8.6
Alk normal
SG 1.024
Calcium 420

 

[aquarist=broke]

I have a Bubble tip anemone and the only time it deflates and spits out brown gunk is when I feed it something other than shrimp. I know you dont have an anemone, and I don't even know what you would feed a OBC, but somebody else will correct me, i'm sure.

 

[madrefkepr]

Have not target fed it anything. I do feed the tank shrimp and flakes. Could only guess what it was fed at the LFS.

 

[Carpentersreef]

It could be either waste or excess zooxanthellae. My fish love to eat it, whichever it is.

Not to worry.

Mitch

 

[JeffK]

I experience the same thing with my open brain a day or so after feeding with brine shrimp. This may be coincidental, but it always seems to happen shortly after feeding.

My yellow tang figured out that nipping at the brain coral will sometimes cause it to contract and eject this waste material, which it enjoys eating.

I've had the coral for about a year and a half, and it has grown considerably in that time--occasional brown goo and all.

As long as the specimen looks healthy overall, I wouldn't be concerned.

Enjoy your open brain coral. IMHO they are the among the most stunningly beautiful corals available.

Best of luck!

 

[madrefkepr]

Don't have a very good camera, so the quality of this pic is terrible, but I think you can tell how deflated it is. Not sure that is very healthy.

 

[DNA]

When snails die...Loads of brown slime.
When Scallops die....Loads of brown slime.
When corals die...hasn't happened to my tank yet but I will be ready for loads of brown slime.

Let's hope it will recover.

 

[Anonymous]

It is either digesting and excreting or something is causing it stress. If it is happenning after feedings I wouldn't worry.

 

[aquarist=broke]

I was wondering, is the color of your sand that maroon/pink color, or is that just the photo.

If that is what it looks like, Cyano Bacteria, then that is probably why your animal is really unhappy. That stuff is a result of high nutrients/nitrate. Please let us know....

 

[madrefkepr]

Is actually brown. Leftovers from a bit of a diatom bloom I had about 1 1/2 weeks ago. Nitrate tests .05, which is higher than I would like, but shouldn't be too bad. It looks much better today, is inflated almost like it was. Thanks everyone!

 

[LilBugger225]

My open brain does that every once in a while. I wouldn't worry about it. As long as it inflates back up and no tissue is receeding from the skeleton it is ok.

HTH

LB 8)